I was SOOOOOOOOO mad last night watching the programme - and my madness evebtually turned into tears - I was so upset and outraged by what I was watching. It is absolutely disgusting what these two people are doing. I could not believe my ears when I heard Paul (the 'father') say that him and his wife ask the girls for help so that they can have a break - of course whilst he was saying this he was sitting in the garden smoking and drikning beer, whilst his two daughters changed dirty nappies inside. ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING. I felt sick after that programme. I have a 17month old baby boy who I love so much and try to give him the best life possible. Those poor children, I felt so bad. I just hope that somewthing is done. The mother was quite obviously 'not all there', as well as being blind, they should not be having more children.

I agree. I thought it was absolutely disgusting. I work with children and the thought that parents could be allowed to treat their children like this is shocking. And the parents said themselves that the reason they are having so many children is so that the children can look after them in their old age.

I agree it's dangerous territory to think that certain people should not be allowed to have kids at ALL, but some common sense should also be allowed and I think it's equally wrong (for the CHILDREN) that inadequate people should be encouraged and even enabled to keep on having kid after kid year after year. Most people have the intelligence and the wisdom to KNOW that they can't support or look after more than a certain number... these people didn't know and need discouragement, for the sake of the kids they have now and any future unborn ones they will produce regular as clockwork for the rest of Mum's fertile life.

I have just realised that i have posted the wrong phone number for the socail services department. I cannot apologise enough, in my anger i clearly didnt read it properly. The correct number is 01869 242211. Sorry once again

Those children need to be removed to a loving home asap. The two girls need to be loved and mothered too as they are clearly showing the signs of neglect also. I agree with Geoff and Julie in that there are mental handicap issues here. The issue is not the parents blindness as Chig, and Ali and Sophie, have clearly shown us examples in their own families of blind parents being able to lovingly care for their children.

I also agree with comments made that if these parents were fully sighted then I don't think they would be any less neglected and abused. Those children are growing up so damaged mentally. You can see that with the elder ones - poor Louise and Jenny. What neglect that poor girl Louise has felt that she is not able to have normal emotions herself towards her sister's suicide attempt plight.

This was heart-breaking stuff.

This country as gone to the dogs, so to speak what with the Victoria Climbie case and this one. What is wrong with this government and the apathetic social services.

We have watched this programme in horror and we cannot stand back and do nothing we need to complain to the right authorities so let us make sure we air our voice so that these poor children get out of that nightmare situation.

That poor little boy did not just have poo on his leg after his little sister changed his nappy not even knowing how to do that properly but you could see that he was red roar from having to be in a dirty nappy all day. In addition to the filthy house and clothes, all the little childrens hands were filthy. The more I am thinking about it I really think that this is neglect of the worst kind. Something has to be done now!

Well i have phoned the department for familys in Banbury and was told that they have had many complaints and they r doing something about it!!! I feel i'm at a lose now as i dont no what to do now

omg i am still reeling from last nights programme it reduced me to tears still upset now, cant get the sight of those poor children out of my mind this is the first time i have voiced my feelings online but felt i needed to do this. I will do all i can to see something done about this, will join you all in ringing and emailing the social services lets hope something is done soon will be keeping in touch
love jayne.

In late Victorian/early Edwardian times it was quite common for the oldest girl in the family to look after her younger siblings; it was a lot that fell to my mother (born 1903). However, we ought to have moved on from those days and contraceptives are freely available now.
I was horrified to hear the mother, when questioned on her motives for wanting a large family, reply that it was in order that there would be plenty in the family to look after her and her husband when they were older!
Blindness is a tragic condition and I feel great sympathy for those so afflicted, but I felt my sympathy running very shallow for this selfish couple.

I hardly slept last night and have been upset all day. I can't get the image of those poor babies out of my head. They were my last thought before I eventually slept and my first thought when I woke.

I have sent an email to Tony Blair. If it gets as much fuss as Big Brother that would be something. I have called the NSPCC and they assure me they are investigating the case but can't tell me anything about the children. I have spoken to Louise Bailey at the Child Families Assessment Team but she just said to send my feelings in an email or letter and she will pass it on to a Senior and now I am going to send an email to the Daily Mirror. They sometimes bring these stories to light and get some results so I'm giving them a try, see if they can get those kids out - someone has to.

We've all got to do our bit, whatever that may be, however small.

It was the most shocking thing I think I have ever seen. The parents are truly selfish and those children are to pitied.

The poor 12 year old Louise is so emotionally shut down it is horrifying and young Jenny an eight year old carrying the weight of the world on her young shoulders.

At their ages, they should ewnjoying being with their friends and having a laugh, being free.

I saw no evidence of them having friends, as they have to give every minute to that selfish who title themselves MUM and DAD!!

A dysfuction family if I did see one!

I didn't see this programme, and didn't even know about it, but what you all have posted on here tells me it was horrific, and has upset so many of you.

In a way, I wish I had seen it, because I'd then be in a position to comment properly.. but to all of you that are distressed, my thoughts are with you, and to those that have done something about this terrible situation, you have done the right thing, and you will have made a difference to those poor kids.

I have just posted on the bicester advertiser forum and emailed the nspcc and after i've taken my son to nursery i'll be on the phone to bicester social services dept about the dispicable way these poor children are living,i'm still far too upset and angry to talk about it! The voice of Britain speaks so the authorities will HAVE to listen and finally do something to help....It's nice to know that some people still care.

I am so pleased that everyone here cares about those children and not only that they are prepared to get off their back sides and actually do something about it!! Since 9 am this morning here is what i have done
CONTACTED NSPCC- THEY WILL LOOK INTO IT
CONTACTED BICESTER SOCIAL SERVICES - DECLINED TO COMMENT AT ALL ON THE TOPIC SAID IT IS PRIVATE I SAID "NO IT IS NOT WHEN ITS BEEN BROADCAST TO THE NATION!!" WHAT A JOKE!
CONTACTED THE THAMES VALLEY POLICE AND LODGED A COMPLAINT THEY ASSURED ME THEY WILL DEFINITELY LOOK INTO IT AND SAID THEY KNOW OF THE FAMILY
RANG OFCOM LODGED A COMPLAINT THEY WILL LOOK INTO IT
EMAILED PM T. BLAIR NO REPLY YET IM SURE I'LL WAIT A WHILE FOR THAT
EMAILED CHANNEL 4- NO REPLY YET
AND FINALLY CONTACTED DAILY MIRROR THEY WILL BE COVERING THE STORY

So that is what i have done and i hope all of you do the same. I could not sleep last night for thinking of those poor children. I feel better now that I have done all i can to highlight it even further.

Surely this is now beyond an issue of disability and child careers, but more importantly a clear case of Child Neglect.

What kind of world are we living in where this level of abuse is allowed to take place without intention.

I lay awake last night until 3am, haunted by the neglect subjected towards those 6 children. I am a 24 year old mother of a 2 year old and an 11 month old. Even on the brink of absolute exaustion I can remember changing upto 5 nappies in one hour. My children are a gift, and like all children deserve to be well loved, well nurished and well looked after.

Have they not been warned about the dangers of febrile convulsions or worse still cot-death, leaving those children in such a dirty and non-ventilated room?

Please can someone tell me what email address I can send a complain to Channel 4

I cannot believe what I witnessed last night, I've been so appauled by what was shown, I just knew that there would be others thinking exactly the same, I'm just glad to see that everyone is doing their bit to help out these neglected children, I'm not going to go into all the appauling visions that I'm sure we all witnessed, cos its so deeply upsetting- I cant even believe that this was shown, I've seen animals taken away from owners that were in better conditions! Anne-Marie, I'm so behind you 110%. Lets hope that someone actually does something before its to late for these children, if it isnt already!

quote:

Originally posted by Anne-Marie77:
I am so pleased that everyone here cares about those children and not only that they are prepared to get off their back sides and actually do something about it!! Since 9 am this morning here is what i have done
CONTACTED NSPCC- THEY WILL LOOK INTO IT
CONTACTED BICESTER SOCIAL SERVICES - DECLINED TO COMMENT AT ALL ON THE TOPIC SAID IT IS PRIVATE I SAID "NO IT IS NOT WHEN ITS BEEN BROADCAST TO THE NATION!!" WHAT A JOKE!
CONTACTED THE THAMES VALLEY POLICE AND LODGED A COMPLAINT THEY ASSURED ME THEY WILL DEFINITELY LOOK INTO IT AND SAID THEY KNOW OF THE FAMILY
RANG OFCOM LODGED A COMPLAINT THEY WILL LOOK INTO IT
EMAILED PM T. BLAIR NO REPLY YET IM SURE I'LL WAIT A WHILE FOR THAT
EMAILED CHANNEL 4- NO REPLY YET
AND FINALLY CONTACTED DAILY MIRROR THEY WILL BE COVERING THE STORY

So that is what i have done and i hope all of you do the same. I could not sleep last night for thinking of those poor children. I feel better now that I have done all i can to highlight it even further.

Just been over the shop and bought my weekly magazine and am tryin to find an email address so i can email them and highlight the problem to them and then maybe they will run something about it.

Well done for all your work this morning. i too have been on the phone to social services and the woman was clearly not interested so i asked how she would feel if it was her children at which point she told me the matter was in hand and would be resloved

I too, like AnneMarie (previous posts) have contacted the authorities,PM, Channel 4 etc.

The truth is there are probably hundreds if not thousands of children in similar situations, caring for others in their home when they shouldn't be!!!!!!!!!!

The pressure has to be kept up and this situation highlighted constantly in the news, so other social services do not feel they dare get a way with it like Bicester social services had done.......up until yesterday, that is!

My daughter, into the 2nd year of her social work degree has explained to me these situations are all too common these days.

Family members (and this includes children) are used to fill the role of outside agencies, ie homehelp, carers etc. This greatly reduces the financial burden on the state.

It appears it is acceptable to bung a few quid in the way of weekly pocket money to young carers than employ others costing hundreds each week to do the same job!

We are in 21st century, not Dickensian Britain.

Please, Please, Everyone, Keep the pressure up!

I am a single mother of three and I feel the need to speak to someone about this horrific documentary which gave me nightmares last night!

How is this allowed to happen in this country; to have vulnerable children abused to such an extent by two incapable parents. Yes they are both blind and for that I am sorry, however this does not excuse child abuse. Furthermore I feel strongly that blindness in not the only disability here, particularly with the so called "mother" who seems to be seriously deficient mentally also rendering her in my view incapable of satisfactorily caring for one child let alone 7+. How can social services allow this to happen: babies not having their nappies changed all day and being fed off of and being left to sleep on of a dirty floor. This is child cruelty not only for the babies and toddlers but for the older children forced to do all of the work whilst the so called parents sit around smoking and drinking. They smoke around the babies constantly (they can see well enough to light up) yet their disability excuses them from any other childcare activity/role, even when their child is bleeding they are not sufficiently moved to help/assist or even to comfort. There is no maternal or paternal feeling or responsibility going on here, only an addiction to childbirth for purely selfish reasons (so that they will be looked after in old age).

Horrific is the sight of a baby left to sit in excrament all day until the older children come home from school, and even after being changed still having poo left all over his legs. These parents are not even capable of seeing to their childrens basic needs; that of feeding and keeping them clean therefore I am disgusted that they are still permitted sole charge. Their house is filthy and dangerous, the babies and toddlers are rolling around the floor in squalour, eating from the floor like dogs. What about their nutrition? Who is cleaning their teeth? Who would notice if the babies got sick? They should be forced to allow social services to intervene otherwise in my view these poor children would be better off in care than neglected like this. And shame on their local hospital for encouraging them to try again for yet another baby. In my view this couple do not deserve to be parents at all, and this has nothing to do with their blindness but more to do with their complete laziness, disinterest and total disregard for looking after them. If ever this couple decided to rehome a stray dog yet they would certainly be rejected as most unsuitable yet we are allowing and indeed encouraging these total inadequates to have sole charge of human babies when they are clearly totally incapable and inadequate. This is a tragedy just waiting to happen.
In this case I would be strongly in favour of forced sterilisation.

Hi everyone
Anne marie you are doing great I too have contacted all of the above, and even though they are all saying they are taking note of our complaints i still feel at a loss as I have heard no word of the current living conditions of thoses poor kids. Has anyone any news on how they all are and what has beendone since the show was filmed last summer has the so called mother produced the lamb to the slaughter yet?

I too have registered my concerns on the message board of the bicester advertiser it is getting quite full of other outraged veiwers. Keep up the good work x

Well done everyone for not just sitting on our backsides and ignoring it. I still can't believe what I saw. This is neglect at its worst.

I just wanted to write and say how upsetting I found last nights program. I spent most of last night in tears and today I can not get those poor children out of my mind and if allow myself too I could sob my heart out. I am so pleased that so many people feel the same way and I just hope that something postive can come out of this awful situation. To see Children in this condition is horrific and although I have some sympathy for the parents situation I cant help but feel anger towards them and their naive attitude. I just want to go and find those children and give them a warm and loving home. I will be contacting Social Services and emailing Louise bailey. If anyone hears any recent news on the situation please let me know.

quote:

Originally posted by minstrelman:
In late Victorian/early Edwardian times it was quite common for the oldest girl in the family to look after her younger siblings; it was a lot that fell to my mother (born 1903). However, we ought to have moved on from those days and contraceptives are freely available now.
I was horrified to hear the mother, when questioned on her motives for wanting a large family, reply that it was in order that there would be plenty in the family to look after her and her husband when they were older!
Blindness is a tragic condition and I feel great sympathy for those so afflicted, but I felt my sympathy running very shallow for this selfish couple.

I also watched this last night, then tried to join the forum as a new member because I was just so angry. After trying and failing for an hour to post, I went to bed fuming and so sad. I just wanted to register how desperately sad I found the living conditions of those children. The baby sitting on the floor was tossed some bread, in the same way I toss food out for the birds. Then he was crawling under the wheelie bin. Lying in the middle of the floor to be stepped over like a dog.

I realised later in the night why I was so angry. I saw myself in the second girl, the eldest of 6 and having to grow up at 7-8 to look after the other kids. Living in squalor and not knowing if food would be there or what quantity. This wasn't the fault of the welfare state just my parents inability to be good parents, spending money on booze, betting and fags.

I wanted to bring them all home, wash them, feed them, cuddle them. The saddest thing of all is that this is only 1 family being highlighted. If something is done for them, who will do anything for the 1000's of others who haven't been highlighted? 1000's of kids who live with parents who are incapable of providing them with love and care, mostly not because of disabilities. But in the defence of the parents rights to have children, the children's rights to have a childhood goes by the board.